You know, if the fast food chains that we have around here were more like the fast food chains in Asia, I imagine that the typically negative reputation that so many of them have would be rosier. I know that might sound hyperbolic, but much less so when you consider folks in Taiwan get to enjoy having the likes of Bafang Dumplings so readily available!
Funny enough, even though my gf was already familiar and a fan of Bafang from her previous visits to Taiwan, what actually brought us here was the fact that they were one of the only places in the area that was still open for us to grab a late dinner when we got into town. That being said, despite our circumstances being the main reason why we came here, I certainly would've been curious to check out a "fast food noodles and dumpling chain". Of course, it didn't hurt that the menu didn't look too shabby. Although it may not be ridiculously extensive, it has all of the important things - beef noodle soup, sesame noodles, dumplings, potstickers, and more!
-- SIGNATURE POTSTICKERS with Pork and Napa Cabbage Filling
These were terrific! Each piece was pretty sizable and had a perfectly golden brown crust on the bottom. Also, I really liked how juicy and delicious the fillings were.
-- BEEF NOODLE SOUP
I was cautiously optimistic for this one and it didn't disappoint! The noodles were cooked well and I thought the beef was really juicy. I do wish the broth had a bit more body/richness to it, but it was still rather beefy and quite flavorful.
-- OLD FASHIONED NOODLES
Ehh...this was fine. The noodles had a decent bite to them with a subtle sesame flavor. Personally, I thought the taste was too subtle, but it was a plus that it did help offset the soy and chili oil when I would dip the potstickers into them.
-- BAFANG PORK CHOP
Not bad, but a little uneven for me. On the plus side, the texture of the batter was far more soggy than crispy. On the other, the pork was surprisingly moist and the seasoning and overall flavor was great.
-- BAFANG SIGNATURE DUMPLINGS with Pork and Napa Cabbage Filling
Just as classic as it is good. The dumplings were pretty plump and the filling had a good ratio of pork to cabbage. However, the best thing about these were the skin - just the right thickness and they weren't the least big soggy or overcooked.
-- CORN & CHICKEN DUMPLINGS
Not as good as their Signature Dumplings, though, to be fair, I'm not as big of a fan of corn & chicken dumplings. While the skins were still fine, the filling wasn't as impressive - somewhat bland with a stronger taste of corn than chicken.
Compared to what you can get from one of the many Taiwanese restaurants around, Bafang's noodles and dumplings do have a bit of a "previously frozen/mass produced" feel to them. However, the food here is still pretty solid for what it is and undeniably convenient for a quick meal, whether you're looking to dine in or grabbing your food to-go. This may not be the first place I'd look to hit up again when I'm back in town, but I definitely wouldn't be opposed to coming back for more. Can't wait until they open in the Bay Area so I can try their frozen dumplings at home as well! read more